Showing in our British Gala section, Special People is a special film. Director Justin Edgar adapted the film from his short which screened to great acclaim at EIFF 2005, and the feature receives its World Premiere at this year’s Festival.

The film follows the fortunes of aspiring director Jasper (Dominic Coleman), whose last hopes of making a cinematic masterpiece lie with a group of disabled kids at a run-down community centre. His class of three quickly dispel any romantic notions the condescending Jasper has about people with disabilities.

Having installed a Big Brother style ‘diary room’ for the teens to express their frustrations, Jasper finds inspiration in a pilfered contribution from student Jess, and they set out on an ill-advised countryside trek to film the masterpiece. Four wheelchair-users and a hill don’t make for an easy shoot.

Inspired by a particularly disastrous community project, during which one of the disabled participants had an epileptic fit because of the feedback from a video monitor, writer/director Edgar doesn’t miss a comedic beat.

The director refused to have able-bodied performers, as he calls it, ‘cripping up’ and Special People is the first UK feature in which every disabled character is played by a disabled performer. The pay-off is a host of cringe-worthy comedic moments which are painfully authentic.

Rarely does a film tackle this subject without descending into sugary condescension or insulting stereotypes. With sharp scripting and great performances, Special People offers plenty of guilt-free hilarity with a heart.

Special People is screening on Tuesday 21 August and Friday 24 August at Cineworld.